WHITEHALL, Ohio — Three days after a 9-month-old girl died in Whitehall, her babysitter is speaking out about the tragedy.
The Whitehall Division of Police said the 9-month-old infant died on Monday inside a home. There was also a 2-year-old child in the home at the time.
Whitehall police said the coroner ruled the baby's death a homicide.
The babysitter of the children told 10TV she was heartbroken.
“My whole heart shattered in pieces. I’m trying to pick it up, put it together,” said Abigail Eismon, babysitter and godmother of the two little girls. “I have no words, I’m speechless. I regret letting her take those kids.”
The mother of the children, Charity Dreyer, is currently being held in jail on charges connected to the alleged abuse of the infant's 2-year-old sister.
More charges against Dreyer are expected.
Eismon said the two girls are full of life.
“They have bubbly personalities, they are loving. They are caring,” she said.
Eismon was one of the last people to see the 9-month-old before she passed away. She has been in contact with Whitehall police who told her about the baby's death.
“Charity would leave her kids from days to weeks with me. I’m not trying to bash her but she did not bring clothes, wipes, diapers, no baby food. I had people in this community came together, to help me raise these kids. I took the best care I could of these kids. I treated them as my own,” said Eismon.
Eismon's brother, Brent, and neighbor Carmen Keeton would help her care for the kids.
“I always helped my sister out when she needed an extra hand. I was a big supporter for them. I was always taking care of the baby, so my sister could help the other one,” said Brent.
“They were the sweetest little girls. The 9-month-old, oh, she stole my heart. I won’t lie and it affected me a lot, it’s still affecting me,” said Keeton.
Now, the family wants justice for the baby.
“I still have the stroller upstairs that they were carried in last time they were here. I can’t touch that stroller,” said Eismon.
Franklin County Children Services currently has custody of the 2-year-old girl.